YouTube banner size (2026)
Upload your banner at 2560 × 1440 pixels (16:9); the minimum is 2048 × 1152 and the file must be 6 MB or smaller. Put your channel name, logo and text inside the central safe area, 1235 × 338 px at the minimum size, because phones and computers show only that middle strip.
Checked against YouTube's official guidelines on October 26, 2026.
1235 × 338 px
YouTube image sizes
| Image | Size | Aspect ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Channel banner (recommended) YouTube's recommended size for the best display on all devices, including TVs. | 2560 × 1440 px | 16:9 |
| Channel banner (minimum) | 2048 × 1152 px | 16:9 |
| Safe area for text and logos Stated at the 2048 × 1152 minimum. At 2560 × 1440 the same area is about 1546 × 423 px. | 1235 × 338 px | about 3.65:1 |
- Maximum file size
- 6 MB
- YouTube's design note
- No shadows, borders or frames around the image
Make a YouTube banner in this size
A 16:9 channel banner with the name and upload schedule kept in the centre, where every device shows it.
Make a YouTube bannerDesign the middle strip first
A YouTube banner is a wide 16:9 image, but most viewers only ever see its centre. On phones and most computer screens YouTube crops the top, bottom and sides and shows a thin band across the middle: the safe area. TVs are the exception and show the whole image.
So treat the banner as two layers:
- The safe area holds everything that must be read: channel name, a short tagline, your upload schedule, a logo.
- The rest of the frame is background that extends the scene for TV viewers. It should look complete, but carry nothing important.
Keep it simple
YouTube asks for no shadows, borders or frames around the image. One background, one line of text and, at most, one supporting line read best in the narrow visible strip.
Common questions
Why is my YouTube banner cut off on my phone?
Phones show only the central strip of the banner, the safe area of 1235 × 338 px at the 2048 × 1152 minimum. Anything outside it, such as text near the edges, is cropped. Move text and logos into that middle band.
Why was my banner rejected?
The two usual reasons are an image smaller than 2048 × 1152 or a file larger than 6 MB. Export at 2560 × 1440 and, if the file is too big, save it as a JPG.
Is the safe area 1235 × 338 or 1546 × 423?
Both describe the same area. YouTube currently states 1235 × 338 px at the 2048 × 1152 minimum; 1546 × 423 is the same proportion at 2560 × 1440, the figure older guides use.
What does the banner look like on a TV?
TVs show the full 16:9 image, which is why YouTube recommends 2560 × 1440. Use the area outside the safe zone for background only, so nothing important depends on it.